Sebastopol striving to end years of pain in landing first premiership

Sebastopol will be chasing a first ever premiership win in Ballarat after falling short last year against Melton. Here is a look at every team ahead of the new season.

Sebastopol does not need reminding of its lack of success in the Ballarat Football Netball League and is keen for a change of fortune in 2023.

The Burras could be considered the hard luck story of country footy in recent years.

They have lost the past two grand finals in the BFNL, in 2019 and 2022, and are yet to win a BFL premiership since joining the competition in 1975.

Last year Sebastopol narrowly lost by five points to Melton in the decider, despite having had chances to win in wet and windy conditions.

Almost 50 years have gone by since Sebastopol joined the league with every other club bar one in the competition winning a premiership in that time while the Burras’ cupboard remains bare.

“Thanks for reminding me,” Sebastopol president Darren Hammill said.

“The retention of the senior core just shows they are striving for it (premiership).

“We’ve only lost a couple for unforeseen circumstances and the rest are really committed.”

The team this year will be co-coached by former Geelong VFL player and current Burras player Luke Kiel who will be joined by Michael Columbro.

Kiel said the focus in the off-season had been on improving on the areas where they feel agonisingly short in 2022.

“We’ve added a little bit of leg speed we lacked and we’ve brought in a bit more structure compared to previous years,” he said.

“We’ve focused on leg speed, ruckmen and ball users, just to add a bit more polish on the outside.”

Sebastopol has added midfielders Liam Latch (Maryborough), Ryan Birthesel (St Joseph’s) and Nick Sanders (St Joseph’s) in the hope of solving those issues.

Kiel said the club was motivated to do well, both for the current players but also for the stalwarts who have endured almost half a century waiting for success.

“It’s never spoken about (the drought),” he said.

“We just want to do it for all the players and the members that have stuck by the club through thick and thin for the last 40 years.”

The Burras, along with other teams in the competition, will have to chase down Melton who start the season as favourites for back-to-back titles.

The Bloods won their first title in 17 years.

Melton coach Aaron Tymms said while others expected the team to be the side to beat, he wasn’t buying the hype.

“Everyone is saying we should be thereabouts again but we have a lot of work to do before we can get there,” he said.

“We could be seven different players from our last game by the looks of things.

“It’s going to be a fresh look, so it will be exciting in that aspect.”

One of the main reasons for the Bloods’ success has been their record at home at MacPherson Park.

Since the redevelopment of the ground, which finished at the start of 2021, the team has lost once at home in two seasons of footy.

“If we can maintain that we’ll be okay,” Tymms said.

“(For us we) just compete all the time.

“If anything goes wrong just compete, compete and compete and hope it goes your way.”

Ballarat Football Netball League general manager Shane Anwyl said other teams were capable.

Anwyl added there is plenty of confidence among a couple of Ballarat teams looking to bring the city back to the top.

“East Point have always been at the top or thereabouts and probably I see no reason why they are not going to play finals,” he said.

“It’s about where they land in the top six.

“Ballarat is also another exciting club for this year with Chris Maple and the experience he brings.

“Ballarat are also going to probably step up from where they were last year and are one top keep an eye on.”

Maple comes to the Swans from the Western Bulldogs VFL and AFL set up and is one high profile coach in the competition.

He joins former AFL coach, Brendan McCartney (North Ballarat), in the competition.

The Ballarat Swans coach is one of six new coaches in the competition with former Essendon player Jackson Merrett coaching East Point and VFL premiership player Jason Williams coaching Bacchus Marsh.

The competition starts Good Friday with Lake Wendouree taking on Redan.

In the women’s competition, Redan will be the team to beat, after claiming the first BFNL women’s competition last year.

“Their female football structure within the club is probably a model that is the envy of other clubs from juniors right through to the open age women,” Anwyl said.

“They are consistent, they’ve got good people in good roles and it shows with the success they’ve had.

“Other clubs look up to Redan as the benchmark.”

The competition has six teams with Carisbrook coming into the competition and Melton, who played last year, moving to the Riddell District Football League.

Their season starts on April 16.

Clubs: Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Darley, East Point, Lake Wendouree, Melton, Melton South, North Ballarat, Redan, Sebastopol, Sunbury

Reigning premiers: Melton

2022 league best-and-fairest: Brett Bewley (Darley)

2022 leading goalkicker: Ryan Carter (Melton) and Nick Rodda (Darley), 56 goals

Bold prediction: Sebastopol to break their premiership drought.

CLUB BY CLUB GUIDE

Melton – The reigning premiers were the class of last year, losing only two games during the season. The Bloods will be hard to beat again this year after retaining most of their players from last season. Massive chance to go back-to-back.

Melton South – The Panthers have had to wait a long time to be in finals, last playing in 2011. The club has made changes in the off-season with Jason Hamilton coming in as coach. His aim is to get the club fitter compared to last year and to use the young talent to rise up the ladder. It might not lead to finals this year but Melton South will surprise a couple of teams.

Sebastopol – One of the leading contenders ahead of this year’s season. The Burras fell five points short of their first ever premiership in the Ballarat Football Netball League last year and will be right in contention to get their first title this year. The club has maintained most of its squad and is now coached by former Geelong VFL player Luke Kiel.

Darley – The Devils were one of the big improvers last year, making finals after not winning a game in 2021. The side will be looking for a similar result this year and will be led by last year’s Henderson Medallist and former Fremantle player Brett Bewley. The Devils will have to overcome the loss of leading goalkicker Nick Rodda and NTFL best and fairest Dylan Landt who have both gone to the Hampden Football League.

Bacchus Marsh – Former The Recruit contestant and VFL player Jason Williams comes in as coach of the Cobras as he looks to get the club back to finals. His chances have been boosted by the signing of son of a gun Jake Long, the son of Essendon great Michael. The team can be in the finals hunt.

East Point – Former Essendon midfielder Jackson Merrett takes over as coach as East Point look to make the finals again for the sixth year in a row. In the past 15 years the team hasn’t finished outside of the top seven. East Point will be relying on youth for their success this season, the team has 11 players in the Greater Western Victorian Rebels team this year.

Lake Wendouree – Expect plenty of improvement after the Lakers finished bottom with a young side last year. The team, coached by former Melbourne and Hawthorn player Jack Fitzpatrick, might not make finals but a few wins would not surprise.

Redan – Only percentage cost the Lions a spot in the finals last year and with experienced coach Gary Learmonth returning the team will be aiming to go one better and make the top six this year. Improvement in their younger talent could be what gets them there.

Sunbury – Former Essendon player Cody Brand headlines the recruits for the Lions as he returns to his junior club. Sunbury could be a team who surprises with their youthful squad competitive last year but not able to get the results to make finals. This year might be different.

Ballarat – Last year’s preliminary finalists have signed former VFL premiership winning coach Chris Maple for this year. The experienced coach at the Western Bulldogs will be a handy asset to a team looking to make their first grand final since 2014. Former AFL player Andrew Hooper is back for the club with former AFL premiership winner Josh Gibson still yet to make a call on if he returns after playing last year.

North Ballarat – Former Western Bulldogs and Essendon player Stewart Crameri is a big inclusion for one of the biggest clubs in the competition. Led by former Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney the team will be aiming higher than their elimination final loss last year.